A total of 402 residential properties between Largs and Fairlie are considered to be at flood risk from coastal flooding from a 1 in 200 year coastal flooding event.

Protecting Ayrshire from coastal erosion and flooding is seen as a high priority in a new shoreline management plan.

The Ayrshire Shore Management Plan identifies policies for each section of shoreline along the Ayrshire coast in the short (0 – 20 years), medium (20 – 50 years), and long-term (50 – 100 years). It is estimated that 249 residential properties and 78 non-residential properties in Largs and Fairlie are presently at risk of coastal flooding during a 1 in 200 year coastal flood event.

When predicted potential changes due to climate change are considered, this rises to 402 residential properties and 138 non-residential properties. In addition, approximately 1.3km of roads are also threatened. From Skelmorlie to Hunterston, one of the short-term objectives involving NAC and Transport Scotland is to evaluate the risk to properties and the A78 due to coastal flooding, erosion and wave overtopping and determine management options to deal with this.

In the short to medium term, shoreline management based on feasibility study to protect the A78 between Largs and Skelmorlie from coastal flooding and erosion will take place, the plan states. This is a medium priority. However, a high priority is to undertake shoreline management ‘to protect assets at Largs’ from the dangers, and maintenance of coastal defences currently in place between Hunterston and Farland Head. Construction of the flood scheme at Millport is a high priority while detailed assessment of the coastal flood risk to roads to the north of the island was a short term measure but labelled low priority. The draft plan is available to view at www.northayrshire.community/2018/01/draft-ayrshire-shoreline-management-plan/